Arya Stark emerged from the final season of Game Of Thrones as the hero of Winterfell, killing the Night King and stopping the Army of the Dead for good. She had an interesting and empowering arc throughout the series, losing her identity and reclaiming it again before leaving the Seven Kingdoms to forge her future.
Like the rest of the characters on the HBO drama, Arya's costumes were varied and intricate, reflecting the character's personal growth and location. Arya's costumes were less extravagant than Sansa Stark's or Cersei Lannister's, but tell their own story of Arya's survival. Here are ten hidden details behind Arya Stark's costumes you didn't notice.
She Dresses Like Her Mother In The First Season
Arya Stark resembles her father Eddard greatly, wearing similar clothes and even having the same hairstyle in later seasons. However, like her sister Sansa, she is also influenced by her mother and her clothes in season one reflect this.
Arya wears full collars and other items of clothing her mother Catelyn wore before the grisly events of the Red Wedding. This shows that, despite not being traditionally feminine like Catelyn, Arya was still inspired by her mother.
Her Clothes Have Always Been Simple
Arya Stark spent the majority of Game of Thrones in dirty doublets despite being a noble lady, but even her House Stark attire was simpler than the extravagant dresses of King's Landing. This is because of Winterfell's location as the North has less access to materials and relies on simple fabrics, leather, and fur.
This is what indicates the difference between Arya and Sansa. Sansa longs for the silk dresses of the Capitol and resents the woolen furs of Winterfell, whereas tomboy-ish Arya is indifferent.
Her Fur Hood Was A Symbol Of Nobility
The North may have less access to materials but a distinction was still made between the lords and the smallfolk when it came to clothing. In the first episode of Game Of Thrones, Arya wears a pale cape with a fur hood, which is a visual indication that she is a member of a noble house.
Arya only wears her fur hood for one episode before donning a more masculine attire. This symbolizes her leaving her identity as a lady behind, something she reiterates in the final season when leaving Westeros.
She Wears Black Clothing After Lady And Micah Die
In the first season of Game Of Thrones, Arya is distraught after the Hound kills her friend Mycah and Queen Cersei orders the death of her sister's direwolf, Lady. In line with Westerosi culture, Arya wears a black shirt underneath her dress to symbolize her mourning.
This signifies how much Mycah's death affected her and justifies her initial hatred of the Hound. Arya's compassion and loyalty to her friends is one of her most defining characteristics.
She Wears The Same Clothes For Three Years
Like the rest of the characters, Arya doesn't have an easy journey in Game Of Thrones. After escaping King's Landing following her father's execution, she dons a boy's attire and doesn't change outfits again until her voyage to Braavos in season five.
Arya spends three years seasons wandering throughout the Riverlands, traveling with the Brotherhood Without Banners and then the Hound. Her clothes reflect her practicality and fierce determination to survive.
She Steals Her Clothes
Whilst wandering through the Riverlands trying to return home to Winterfell, Arya has to make the best out of her circumstances. As she doesn't have money to buy clothes she has to steal them - mostly from the dead casualties of the war ravaging Westeros.
Arya's resilience and willpower to survive are another of her most defining personality traits. To survive, she has to put aside her Stark honor and do what she can to protect herself.
Her Clothes Are Costumes And Reflect None Of Her Personality
After Arya leaves Westeros and sets sail for Braavos, she trains to become a Faceless Man at the House of the Black and White under the tutelage of Jaqen H'ghar. This requires her to leave her identity behind and become "no one," something her clothes reflect.
Arya's outfits are all chosen for practicality and to reflect the person she is pretending to be. This is another difference between Arya and her sister Sansa, who uses her clothing to express herself.
The Braavosi Skirt She Wears Is Gender Neutral
Arya wears a skirt for the first time in season five whilst pretending to be Mercy, but this is still her staying true to her tomboy-ish roots. The skirt she wears is gender-neutral and a popular garment with the Braavosi bankers.
This is a subtle hint that Arya is not ready to let go of who she is and become the assassin the Faceless Men want her to be. Even whilst pretending to be somebody else, Arya can not forget her true identity.
She Wears The Stark Colors
Arya informs Jaqen during season six that she cannot be a Faceless Man as she is "Arya Stark of Winterfell." Her clothes reflect her choice, as she dons the Stark colors after returning to Winterfell and reuniting with her family.
Arya wears a leather doublet and pants in seasons seven and eight in the Stark colors of grey and brown. This highlights her allegiance to her house and family, despite her concluding decision to voyage west of Westeros.
Ned Stark Is Her Main Inspiration
In the final seasons of Game Of Thrones, Arya Stark resembles her late father Eddard greatly and this is no coincidence. Ned was her biggest inspiration and the first person - besides Jon - to encourage her to be who she is, and her wardrobe pays homage to the deceased Lord of Winterfell.
Arya tells Sansa that it was Ned who encouraged her to practice archery despite the societal expectations in Westeros. Both Stark sisters pay homage to their parents, with Sansa dressing similar to her mother Catelyn and Arya drawing inspiration from Ned.